Campaign of the Indus eBook

doubt, part of the original plan that sent us here,
as these posts are to be strongly fortified, consisting,
it is supposed, of Shikarpoor, Schwun, Tatta, and
Curachee, and are to be the posts of defence on our
north-west frontiers against any incursions from our
northern neighbours, particularly Russia. The
Ameers are particularly indignant at this, as I am
told it did not form part of the original treaty, and
they see in it, no doubt with justice, a prelude to
our final possession of their country. Pottinger,
the political agent, had collected, before he left
Hydrabad, grain for the army to the value of three
lacs of rupees; this, it is now found out, has either
been taken away or destroyed, and Sir J. Keane immediately
added it to the other twenty lacs contained in the
treaty. The Ameers say they will pay half the
whole sum demanded here, and the remaining half on
our arrival at Shikarpoor. This Sir J. Keane
has refused, and told them he will not leave this
or Hydrabad till he gets every fraction.

We yesterday received news which must, I should think,
have an effect on the Ameers one way or the other.
The admiral on this station, Sir F. Maitland, brought
up in his 74 (I think the Wellesley) H.M. 40th regiment,
from Mandivie, in Cutch, to Curachee, a fort on the
westernmost branch of the Indus. On approaching
the fort, the Beloochees who garrisoned it, taking
it for a common free-trader, had the foolish presumption
to fire into her; the admiral wore his vessel round,
just gave one broadside, down came their fort in one
second about their ears,—­you may guess
how it astonished them: they sent word to say
that the English fire a lac of shot in one second.
They say the Ameers were one year in taking this place,
which cost the English one second. I think myself
that we shall not have any fighting here, and that
Hydrabad will still remain in the hands of the Ameers.

The report to-day is, that we cross the river to-morrow;
if so, I suppose with hostile intentions, or at least
for intimidation; but this I hardly believe.
Sir J. Keane, they say, refused to receive the deputation
from the Ameers yesterday. Should the thing be
settled peaceably, we shall immediately march for
Shikarpoor, and thence most likely on Candahar, a
new climate. It has been getting gradually hotter
here; and in the hot season Sinde is dreadful.
At Shikarpoor we meet a part, if not the whole, of
the Bengal force, and Shah Shooja, with his and Runjet
Sing’s contingent, is also there. Runjet
himself is very ill: part of the agreement between
him and us was, that we should preserve the throne
to his son on his demise. He was excessively civil
to Lord Auckland, and all the English who have been
at Lahore. Sir H. Fane, they say, still proceeds
with the Bengal army. The drummer is here waiting
for my letter, as it is very late for the post, so,
in haste, good bye. Love, &c., and believe me
ever,